Dushku got $13m harassment settlement

Variety StaffAAP
Eliza Dushku says she was the subject of sexual remarks and jokes on the set of Bull.
Camera IconEliza Dushku says she was the subject of sexual remarks and jokes on the set of Bull.

Actress Eliza Dushku received a $US9.5 million ($A13.2m) settlement from CBS after the actress alleged she was the subject of several inappropriate comments on the set of the TV series Bull, according to the New York Times.

Dushku appeared in the first season of the procedural, initially being brought on for a three-episode arc with plans to make her a regular cast member.


In one such instance, Dushku says her character held up three fingers in a scene, after which Weatherly made a joke about engaging in a threesome with her and another man.

She also said Weatherly made a comment about spanking her in front of the cast and crew, and invited her to his "rape van" (which Weatherly told the Times was a reference to a line in "Bull").

Dushku said she approached Weatherly to say the remarks made her uncomfortable. Shortly thereafter, her character was written off the show.

Weatherly issued an apology to the Times, saying, "During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script. When Eliza told me that she wasn't comfortable with my language and attempt at humour, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologised.


The actor, however, maintained that he did not push for Dushku to be removed from the show.

"It's my recollection that I didn't tell anyone how they should do their job regarding the hiring or firing of anybody," he said.

"The allegations in Ms. Dushku's claims are an example that, while we remain committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace, our work is far from done," CBS told the NYT in a statement.


News of the settlement comes after a raft of sexual harassment and assault allegations at the highest levels of CBS, the corporate owners of Australia's Channel 10.

CBS chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves was ousted from the company after multiple women accused him of sexual assault.

CBS This Morning co-anchor Charlie Rose was also fired after multiple women accused him of harassment, while 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager was forced out following similar accusations.

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